Potential Deficiencies in the Existing Policies of API - Assignment Example

ID No. of the TA 18 Nov. Introduction: Having analyzed the potential deficiencies in the existing policies (Academic Integrity Policies (AIPs) / Codes of Ethics) pertinent to “ethics” enforced by the educational institutions in US at all levels, the author has made an attempt to devise ways in which they can be improved so as to make them compliant with the rapidly changing Information Technology (IT) influenced educational setup. According to the author, the currently prevalent AIPs are too reserved to address the multifarious needs of the students in the educational setup. The author has fundamentally suggested a model that he deems sufficiently strong and vibrant to meet the changing requirements of education on ethical grounds. The model proposed by the author suffices the modernistic pedagogies of the education and conducive to raising students’ engagement with studies. The group cardinally affected by the compliance of concerned authorities with the ideas suggested in this paper is students. Students would experience a noticeable change in the requirements of their mentors with respect to assignments. This would change the academic nurturing of children for the good, though the verisimilitude of minor and occasional negative consequences can not be denied. Analysis of strategies used by author: The author has first identified the potential ways in which the conventional policy design helps the students violate the laws of ethics or else, fall prey to the laws having committed little offenses. The identification of problems is followed by the analysis of policy design in some of the most renowned universities of the world. After having an insight to the various universities’ formulation and implementation of policies, the author has come up with a model he deems sufficient considering the changing and modifying nature of IT influenced education. The author has explained all drawbacks with respect to the way they affect the software development industry. It is indeed, a very rational approach towards the analysis of matter and making up of argument in that the reader is given a complete insight into the traditional practices and the way they affect the education. Author’s claims: Extent of material allowable to be copied should be much larger in the studies of Computer Sciences in comparison to those of English compositions because the nature of subject demands huge reliance on already existing literature in order to allow one to explore the matter further. Little to no progress can be made unless already existing data is considerably availed in the research and development in the field of Computer Sciences. In view of this, it is not rational to impose the same rules and limitations regarding plagiarism for the Computer Sciences studies as compared to other areas of literature. In fact, a better approach would be to let the mentor decide the extent to which existing material can be copied in individual assignments, without laying any limitations on the maximum or minimum extent. Furthermore, course syllabus should have distinct criteria for citing existing codes, and the extent to which this can be done. Again, it should be left upon the mentor to lay down the criteria for cheating in individual effort since the nature of Computer Sciences, particularly the software development calls for group work more than individual work. In addition to that, conventional setting in the computer departments in the educational institutions increase students’ susceptibility to get their work copied and loose credit for their effort. There is requirement for reform considering this aspect of security. Policies should be watchful of students’ capacity to alter the results of computer softwares in their tasks so as to customize them as per their requirements. Having said this, the author analyzed the policies of a few renowned universities as references. Intended audience: The paper fundamentally addresses the concerns of Heads of Computer Departments in the universities. In a broader spectrum, Ministry of Education finds considerable concern into the matter owing to its fundamental involvement in the development and implementation of all policies pertinent to education in the educational institutions. Apart from the main concern of Ministry of Education in the matter, Ministry of Ethics and Sociology assume an indirect involvement in the subject. Language used by the author is fairly simple to understand. The author used easy words so that an individual with average knowledge of vocabulary would easily understand the points author intends to convey. This tells that the author’s focus has fundamentally been to rationalize the policy design by conveying his opinion in simple language, rather than making a fancy addition to the existing body of text that addresses similar issues by confusing the reader with use of complex terms. Moreover, the author has adopted a corrective approach rather than criticizing the prevalent policy designs for their inefficiency in controlling students’ behavior. Critical analysis: Owing to the fact that use of generic terms in the language in which laws are stipulated while making the policies gives the concerned parties room to interpret them as per their wish, the author has emphasized upon particularization of terms in the laws that make part of policies. However, this would in turn relieve the students of many potential ways in which they could be taken to task upon violating the laws of ethics, since they would not be punished unless their unethical act completely fits the category laid out in the policy. I completely agree to the policy adopted by the Purdue Univeristy in particular as highlighted by the author. In an attempt to make the laws more effective and influential upon the behavior of students, a better approach is to make them sign the policy at the time of their admission into the university, just like Purdue University does. Conclusion: Universities should clearly specify what to them honesty is and what actions on the part of students lie in the domain of dishonesty. Policies should be designed after a comprehensive review of all possible ways in which students can violate the laws of ethics in a particular educational setup. The model proposed by the author emphasizes upon clear identification and laying out of the roles and responsibilities of all individuals that affect or are affected by the policies in any way. In addition to that, the author places huge emphasis upon rational presentation of the formulated policy so that it can be understood and complied with in the best possible way. The model clearly stipulates the penalties students become liable to if they violate the principles to a certain extent. Overall, the paper displays a good analysis of the ways in which conventional AIPs fail to address the particular concerns of educational setups, and the model proposed by the author is fair and sufficiently adequate to satisfy the growing needs of the students in the conventional educational environment. Read More